Come 2014, all ammunition sold to civilian gun-owners in America will have to be imported, a result of President Obama’s crackdown on sulfur dioxide and lead emissions and accompanying harsh Environmental Protection Agency regulations, said former Florida congressman, Lt. Col. Allen West.

Well, any lead that comes from ore will be imported, not necessarily the ammunition. From what I understand about the lead market, the vast majority of lead consumed comes from recycled sources. In other words, you spend a typical day at the range shooting mostly old car batteries, wheel weights, etc down your barrel. Granted, I don’t think relying on imported lead is a good thing, but I also don’t think it’s necessarily something to panic over either.

8 Responses to “EPA Creating Lead Shortage?”

Are we really that sure that lead is the only substance that can be used in projectiles fired from a gun? Seems to me this is prime reason why we ought to be pressing to open up other sources for ammo production and thoroughly debunking the “cop killer bullet” myth. Bullets don’t just hone in on one specific type of person.

Apparently there is/was one – note, ONE – lead smelter in the US. It is a shame it is being driven out of business, but just what percentage of lead sold did it actually produce? And how much of its output was sold to ammunition makers?

Actually, I am more concerned with my insulin supply, which all comes from one of two German companies (though a Danish company also produces it), than raw lead.

90% of the lead used in the US is in lead-acid batteries. And most of that is recycled when the batteries wear out. 5% is used in ammunition.

And lead prices have gone up, down and up again (just like every metal price), depending on the economy and Chinese demand. (I used to have to budget for stationary battery purchases, and they are very dependent on lead prices.) Lead is a commodity, there will be lead available for ammo.